PhD Position Available
Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research
"The Eurasian Shelf Seas in the Arctic's Changing Environment: Frontal
Zones and Polynya Systems in the Laptev Sea"
Application Deadline: Saturday, 10 March 2007
For further information about the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and
Marine Research, please go to:
http://www.awi-bremerhaven.de/Modelling/SEAICE
or contact:
Christian Haas
E-mail: Christian.Haas [at] awi.de
The Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research invites
applications for a PhD position in remote sensing, oceanography, or
physics as part of the project, "The Eurasian Shelf Seas in the Arctic's
Changing Environment: Frontal Zones and Polynya Systems in the Laptev
Sea."
The Laptev Sea is a key region in the Arctic as every year the polynyas
regularly forming in winter are sources of high sea ice production. This
ice is exported into the Arctic Ocean. Polynyas are important for the
energy and salt budget of the Laptev Sea and, therefore, the entire
climate system. Future climate changes are expected to have strong
effects on polynyas.
Funded by the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research, the
PhD project involves observations of ice production and other processes
in the Laptev Sea polynyas, as well as their interannual variability,
using data from Envisat and TerraSAR-X synthetic aperture radar (SAR)
and from the ICESat and CryoSat missions. These observations will be the
basis for modeling ice and salt production in the polynyas and for model
validation. The results from the satellite data and models will be
validated on the basis of ice thickness data and oceanographic
measurements obtained from long-term stations. In addition, two winter
expeditions into the Laptev Sea region are planned, during which
numerous measurements will be carried out from helicopters.
Applicants for this three-year position must have a degree in physics,
oceanography, or remote sensing, as well as a background in working with
satellite data, SAR in particular, and a specific interest in polar
research. Experience in conducting and processing field measurements is
desirable. Applicants must also be willing to take part in marine
expeditions to polar regions. Applicants with severe disabilities will
be employed preferentially if their professional and personal
qualifications are similar to those of other candidates. The closing
date is Saturday, 10 March 2007, and the successful candidate will be
expected to start the position on 1 April 2007.
For full application instructions, please contact:
Christian Haas
E-mail: Christian.Haas [at] awi.de